❧ Two wonderful and rare Examples.  
Of the undeferred and present approaching judgement, of the Lord our God: the one upon a wicked and pernicious blasphemer of the name of God, and servant to one Master Francis pennel, Gentleman, dwelling at Boothbie in Lincolnshire, three miles from Grantham.  
The other upon a woman, named joane Bowser, dwelling at Donnington, in Leicestershire, to whom the Devil very strangely appeared, as in the discourse following, you may read. In june last. 1581.  
Written by Philip Stubbes.  
❧ Imprinted at London for William Wright, and are to be sold at his shop in the Poultry: the middle shop in the row, adjoining to Saint Mildred's Church.   

❧ Two rare examples, to move all Christians to repentance, the one of an odious swearer, the other of a widow, named joane Bowser, etc.  
IT is a pitiful case to consider, the inordinate sins, wherein the world at this time, is as it were drowned. For where hath not iniquity gotten the upper hand? Is not pride, whoredom, swearing, and lying (by the malice of the Devil) even in the time of the Gospel, more frequented, and held in estimation, then at any other time heretofore? How many counterfeit visors, hath folly practised, to cover all her trains of subtlety, persuading her imitators, with such madness, that modesty is driven into exile. Are not the hearts of men so fast lulled, in the cradle of Security, that Pity is forgotten, charity fled, Mercy exiled, Avarice exalted▪ good Conscience banished, and the poor uncherished, and the Gospel of Truth as a shadow, with the lips professed, but in effect, little followed? Nay, rather the more is the pity, Exhortations, Examples, Earthquakes, Comettes, fiery Skies, Inundations, Shipwrecks, unnatural births, as well in men as beasts, nothing regarded: which thing doth but foreshow, that our days are the very same, which the Apostle Paul to Tymothie. 7. Chapter. Doth so warely warn us to take heed off, saying: In the later days, men shall become lovers of themselves, disobedient, evil speakers, etc. And who can be so blind that doth not see these things grown, to such corruption, that the Scithe of God's wrath, is no doubt ready to mow us, as unprofitable brambles from the face of the earth, except we repent?  
And here dear brethren, I have to present unto your eyes, a rare example of the justice of God, upon a great blasphemer of the precious blood of Christ, which came to pass in Lincolnshire, in the month of june, last passed, in a Town called Boothebie, three miles from Granthame, in the house of a good Gentleman, both of worship and credit, named Master pennel, who having entertained this Servingman (for so he was,) who had still in his mouth, the use to sweat, God's precious blood, and that for very trifles: Thus notwithstanding, being often warned by his friends, to leave the taking of the Lords blood in vain, did notwithstanding, still persist in his wickedness: until at the last, it pleased God, to acite him, first with sickness, and last, with Death. During which time, of the lords visitation, no persuasions could move him to repent, his foreused blasphemies, but hearing the Bell to toll, did most hardly, in the very anguish of death, start up in his bed, and swore by God's blood, this Bell doth toll for me, whereupon immediately, the blood abundantly, from all the joints of his body, as it were in streams, did issue out, most fearfully, as well, from mouth, nose, wrists, knees, heels, and toes, with all other joints, not one left free: whereupon he most suddenly yielded up the ghost, whose judgement I leave unto the Lord.  
And now I will proceed, to show one other, as strange a judgement, happening in Leicestershire, in a Town called Donnington, where dwelled a poor man, named john Twell, who deceased, owing unto one Oswald Bowcer, the sum of five shilling, which the said oswald did forgive the said man, before named, as he lay upon his death bed: but the said Oswaldes' wife, called joane, would in no wise forgive the said Twell, as long (she said) as she had day to live. Whereupon, not long after, the Devil appeared unto her, in the form of the said Twell deceased, expressing all the lyneamentes, of the body of the dead man, which might well be, for we read in the Bible, in the like order, did Satan counterfeit the body of Samuel. But to proceed to the matter, this evil spirit, uttered unto her these speeches, & said, he had brought her money from john Twell deceased, and willed her incontinent, to disburse the said money, unto her husband, for his pains: Which she, with as covetous a desire, received, saying, God thank you. She had no sooner named God, but the money consumed away, from between her hands, as it were a vapour, or smoke, till it was all consumed: wherewith, the Devil giving her a most fearful, and sore stroke, vanished out of her sight.  
Wherewith her whole body, became as black as pitch, replenished all over with a most filthy scurf, and other things which was so odious, as here my pen for modesty's sake, leaveth to wright, referring you to the verses hereafter ensuing. But to proceed, her body was most strangely benumbed, and her eyes closed up from the benefit of the light. Thus remaining a certain space, she confessed the hardness of her heart, and with great patience, thanked God for his judgements, bestowed on her. Whereupon to be brief, it pleased God, seeing her repentance, to revoke his justice, and to restore her unto her former health, where she remaineth, praising the name of God, for his great mercies bestowed upon her. And I beseech the Lord jesus, that these examples, may not only be read, but warily marked, to the amendment of our most sinful and wicked lives, and that blasphemers may beware and take heed, how they more reverently, in their communication use the name of God: and that these hard hearted people, who will not forgive their brethren, be the debt never so small: But as it is well mentioned in the Gospel, will for a hundredth pence, catch their poor brethren by the throat, forgetting how many debts, our heavenly Father hath forgiven us, and washed us in his blood. To whom be all honour and glory: Amen.   

¶ A fearful and terrible example of God just judgement, executed upon a lewd fellow, who usually accustomed to swear by God's blood, which may be a Caveat to all the whole world, that they blaspheme not the name of their God by swearing.  

O Mortal men, which in this world, for time have your repast:  
Approach, the fearefulst thing to hear, that ever happened erst.  
Yea such a thing as doth import, the Lord our God on high:  
Through swearing by his blessed name, offended for to be.   

Which strange event, whilst that I do, perpend and to mind call,  
My Pen (in troth) is ready priest, out of my hand to fall.  
My heart also doth quail in breast, my eyes distill a pace:  
The Saulte and brinish tears also, do trickle down my face.   

But yet good Pen hold on thy course, to write, do thou not linne:  
For I the truth to prosecute, hereof will now begin.  
There is a town in Lincolnshire, which Bothbie hath to name:  
Just three miles distant from Grantam, a town of ancient fame.   

Wherein there dwells a Gentleman, the truth for to decide:  
Who Francis Penell called is, this may not be denied.  
It pleased God this Gentleman, into his house did hire:  
A Servingman t'atende him on, borne in Worstershire.   

Which said youngman inclined was, unto a thing not good:  
As for to swear by Christ his flesh, and by his precious blood.  
So muzzled up herein he was, that leave it he ne could:  
But at each word, which he should speak, by God's blood, swear he would.   

This 〈…〉 was was his usual kind of oath (O Sathanist most vile:)  
〈…〉 erewith he did his loving God, pollute, and eke defile.  
〈…〉 doth you see, transnature us, and bringeth us to wrack:  
Yea, makes a Metamorphosis, of us, behind our back.   

Wherefore let us estrange ourselves, from rustomes that be nought▪  
Having regard unto our souls, which jesus Christ hath bought.  
Now Christ our Lord and Father dear, in judgement doth proceed:  
Hurling at this miscreant vile, his thunderbolts of dread.   

Meaning, in justice for to make, this viper, varlet he:  
A terror unto all the world, of swearing for to be.  
Wherefore, our Lord commanded death; at him to shoot his dart:  
Who strait without protract of time, gored him unto the heart.   

Now, when that he the pangs of Death, did feel, and eke sustain:  
Than he began as you have heard, God's name for to blaspheme.  
And never ceased for to swear, by jesus Christ his blood:  
until his soul, at the last gasp, forth of his body yood.   

And in this cruel ecstasy, he passionate did lie:  
The space of three or four whole weeks, still swearing bitterly  
Now when that he had languished, the spare that I have said:  
The people they perceiving it, of force he would be dead.   

Caused the Bell for to be told, that all for him might pray:  
Beseeching God, his soul to keep, against the dreadful day.  
But when that he had heard this Bell, knolling most drerilie:  
He rushing up, said, by God's blood, this Bell it tolls for me.   

He had no sooner spoke these words, which I have showed to you:  
But that a pace, his heart blood did, forth of his body flow.  
For why, out of his singer's ends, his blood did stream full fast:  
So did it forth, at his toes ends, which made them all aghast.   

And yet the Lord proceeded forth, this traitorous wight to scourge:  
The blood gushed out, yea, at his wrists, much like the foaming surge.  
So did it also at his nose, run forth abundantly:  
With other filthy excrements, which man doth loath to see.   

Thus died he, commmitting his soul, to the furies fell:  
Which do possess th'infernal gulf, and Labyrinth of hell.  
Than was his body strait interred, although (in truth) forlorn:  
For whom it had been better far, if he had not been borne.   

Whose heart is now so obdurate, that hearing of this thing.  
Will not permit out of the same, great floods of tears to spring?  
Or whose mind is so fastinate, or eke so lulde on sleep:  
That for to hear hereof will not, constrained be to weep.   

And that for fear he should his God, through swearing thus offend:  
And thereby purchase to himself, like dire and rueful end.  
O you that swear at every word, replete with devilrie:  
For to abstain from swearing vile, let this a caveat be.   

For sure you are as guilty of, the death of Christ jesus:  
As ever were the cursed jews, which on the Cross him slew.  
But (oh alas) so far are we, from leaving of this vice:  
That we will not expung the same, but therein do rejoice.   

We count that man heroical, and of a courage good:  
Who can lash out the greatest oaths, by jesus Christ his blood.  
And he that will not wear at all for fear of punishment:  
He counted is a softishe fool, and eke a mere Peasant.   

But now me thinks, I hear these Dogs, t'expostulate with me:  
And say they have their God in mind, when that they swear him buy.  
But to you men most Serpentine, the Lord doth say again:  
Thou shalt not take the name of me, the Lord thy God in vain.   

Also the Lord doth thee command, in Matthew this is plain:  
●hat thou at all from swearing should, for ever to abstain.  
Proving that, what proceedeth more, than this, yea, yea, no, no:  
Doth come from the infernal Prince, our mortal deadly foe.   

Th'apostle james doth us instruct, by words effectual:  
Saying to us, O brethren dear, do you not swear at all.  
By other places infinite, of holy Scripture pure:  
We are restrained we should not swear, at all, by no Creature.   

For that is vile Idolatry, far from a learned lore:  
Which thing we ought at all assays, to loath and to abhor.  
Wherefore I hereof do conclude, without remorse or grudge:  
That all vain oaths unlawful are, not made before a judge.   

For sure I am, we never ought, at any time to swear:  
Except the Christian Magistrate, by law do it require.  
And if before him we do swear, in truth and holiness:  
The Lord himself acknowledgeth, he thereby honoured is.   

And thus I end, beseeching God, of his especial grace:  
That we all sinful swearing may, abandon in each place.  
Elizabeth our noble Queen, good Lord preserve and shield:  
That she thy chaste and faithful Spouse, may still maintain & build.   

Make her, O Lord, a Mother old, in Israel thy own hill:  
Grant that she may in all respects, obey thy godly will.  
Good Lord protect her royal Grace, and bless her with long life:  
That this thy Realm, may long remain, in peace, void of all strife.   

Let her, O Lord, be placed far, distant from cruel death:  
And all that will not say, Amen▪ would God they had no breath.   
Philip Stubbes.  
FINIS.   

A fearful and rare example, of God's just judgement, which he executed upon an obstinate woman, who would not forgive her brother his debt, the Devil appearing to her in most dreadful manner, and afflicting her body in pitiful wise, and which may be a lesson admonitory to all the world, to move them to repentance, and one to forgive an other.  

THe works of God are wonderful, as you by this shall hear:  
Wherefore attentive ear I crave, to hearken to my leyre.  
Good Pen prepare thyself to write, those things I shall require:  
Which happened in Donington, a Town of Leicestershire,   

A Town truly of ancienty, and of renownted fame:  
For otherwise to speak thereof, in troth I were to blame.  
But as the Town it famous is, and worthy so to be:  
So are the people ineffrenate, perverse in each degree.   

In Donington the foresaid Town, there dwelled an honest man:  
Whose name in truth was john of Twell, so near as I can scan.  
Which said john Twell arrested was, by Death that cruel wight:  
T'appear before our sovereign Lord, the Peerless King of might.   

So called hence (iwis) he was, he owing shillings five:  
Unto one Oswalde Bowser sure, an honest man, and belive.  
Which Bowser he forgave it him, upon his death bed thou:  
But joan Bowser, wife to him, in no wise would do so.   

But spoke and said, yea blaske abroad, for this is verity:)  
I never will forgive it him, until the time I die.  
Now whilst that she persisted thus, in her pestiferous state:  
It pleased God, the Devil should, her corpse infatuate.   

For as she was disposed to sleep, towards the evening tide:  
When Phoebus with his glistering beams towards the west can glide.  
The Devil he appeared to her, in such an ugly shape:  
As forced she was in every part, to tremble and to quake.   

And then she listing up her eyes, which now do give her light:  
Saw one before her for to stand, as black as is the night.  
Which thing she said (what so it was) that unto her was sent:  
Did portray forth the said john Twell, in corporal lineament.   

Farther she said he had bleared eyes, as had the foresaid Twell,  
Resembling him in each respect, 〈…〉 as the fell.  
This 〈…〉 Serpentine, spoke thus the woman till  
Receive this money, which I bring to satisfy thy will▪   

And see that thou disburse the same, unto thy husband well:  
And say that I do send it him, as due for his travel  
Then she took up the money sure, with joy and comfort fraught:  
For that she had so luckily, this Mass if money caught.   

Thus she with joy inebriate, in all and every part,  
Burst forth and said, now God you thank, oh sir with all my heart.  
Now 〈…〉 God jehovah hie,  
Th● money 〈…〉 did vade away.   

And he withalt vanished away, and that in fearful sight:  
She still persisting sore perplexed, and in a woeful plight.  
But yet before he did departed, he smit her with his hand:  
Yea such a deadly blow he gave, as uneath could she stand.   

And strait way then, her corpses he came inn part as black as Pitch,  
Replenished with filthy scurf, as (almost) none is such.  
And other dregs most fettulent, issued from her then,  
Which modesty, and reason eke, commands me not to pen   

And from that time until of late, her body it was lame:  
Not able sure, to put in use the practice of the same  
For in goodsoothe, her body was, benumde, and eke betakte:  
The space of three or four whole weeks, all comfort her forsakte.   

Her eyes also were closed up, of sight she was made blind:  
Thanking her God, who too her had his providence assigned.  
Now when the Devil had disgorgde his stinking poisoned breast:  
Of all the malice that she could, her body to infest.   

It pleased God, that she should be, to health again restoedt  
By whom all sin and wickedness, God grant may be abhorred.  
And now she liveth honestly, and 〈…〉 show,  
Unto the world, the works of God, perfected here below.   

Who grant to us his grace divine and pardon thee so free:  
That unto us in heaven bliss, a guerdon it may be▪  
This woman she was plagued full sore and hereby you may view:  
The same t'ourselues let us apply, that we may find astkew.   

For if that we stiff-necked be, and loath for to remitts:  
Th'offences which to us are due, a thing both good and fit.  
Then is the Lord as able as was ever heretofore:  
To plague us all with tortures, forever to endure.   

And in his holy word most pure; he doth us all command  
That we th'offences to be done, too forgive should not stand.  
Proving that God our Father 〈…〉 forgive us all▪  
Our manifold enormities, when that on him we call.   

Unleast that we be ready priest, each other to forgive:  
The sins, and eke th'offences all, of these that do us grieve.  
Wherefore let us (dear Christians,) maugre the devils head)  
Forgive them all that do offend us, before we be dead.   

Or else we never can be saved, by jesus Christ his death:  
A sacrifice salvifical, to them that live by faith.  
For after death it is too late, his mercy to desire,  
Because we would not them forgive, which did offend us hear.   

No doubt these wonders from above, to us below are sent:  
To subjugate our haughty looks, and move us to repent.  
Therefore thou Town of Donington, I read thee to repent:  
For by procrastination, in troth thou mayst be shent.   

Think thou this a presagie, of God's fierce wrath to thee:  
If that thou cleave not to his word, and eke repentant be.  
God hath thee warned now by this, and that in friendly sort:  
To leave thy whoredom and thy pride, and all thy filthy sport.   

Abandon then out of thy streets, all mirth and minstrelsy,  
No Pipers, nor no Dancers vile, in thee let extant be.  
Remember thou thy lately plague, of blain, of Botch and Bile,  
Whereby thy God, did scourge thee sore, least sin should thee defile.   

O Donington fall not again, unto thy vomit old,  
In filthy scurrile bawdy talk, do not thyself uphold.  
Ne yet with vain and bloody oaths, do not thyself embrew:  
For than the Lord will throw thee down, amid the devils crew.   

Fly from all worldly vanities, the word of God embrace:  
Set not abroach opinions vile, the same for to deface.  
And in this living thou shalt be, safe from all worldly foes:  
And in the world that is to come, shalt have aye lasting joys.   

To write hereof at this time more, my Pen I do suspend:  
Beseeching God that we may have, heaven at our last end.  
And now O gentle Donington, be mindful yet of me:  
Who have with pains contrived this same, for love I bear to thee.   

Requite me not with wrath again, that were disloyalty:  
But see that thou accept hereof, as best beseemeth thee.  
And as a pledge of my goodwill, let this be unto thee:  
Desiring God that I thy state, in health and wealth may see.   

Our noble Queen Elizabeth, in health and honour eke:  
Good Lord preserve to Nestor's days, that she thy truth may keep.  
From bloody hands of foreign foes, good Lord her save and shend:  
Grant that at all assays she may, by thee still be defend.   

And when thou shalt her royal grace, in mercy to thee call:  
Grant (Lord) that she with thee may have, thy joys celestial.  
Amen.   
Philip Stubbes.  
FINIS.   

¶ An admonition to the Christian Readers, inferred upon the two strange Stratagems before passed.  
WE may behold (Christian Reader) with no little grief of mind, the great love of our God, and the little regard of ourselves, his fatherly motions, and in us no sign of amendment. Referring the innumerable examples, happening not only to our Fathers, but in our time also: let us only consider these twain, the one of an abominable swearer, the other of a wicked Woman, that would not forgive. If we consider the wickedness of the time, grown into a contumely, both of God & good things. we may enter into a secret conferring with ourselves, how, or by what means, we shall lay claim to the mercy of God, being altogether void, and showing no sign of humility, whereby he may perceive any sorrow for our sins, or in us any desire to be pardoned. We abuse his name daily, in every light and trifling matter: we go to hear his word, rather for a fashion, than any affection we bear to it. love is exiled amongst us, neighbourhood nothing regarded, pity utterly subverted, and remorse of conscience nothing esteemed, what shall become of us? Remember we not, there is a life to come, a joy, a bliss, a crown of glory? Would we be partakers thereof? no, if we would enjoy that heavenly happiness, our life and conversation, would show some means, how we seek to deserve it. And shall we then wilfully lose it? oh no, take hold of Faith, embarce Repentance▪ humble your souls to the throne of mercy: that albeit the Lord perceive we are unprofitable labourers in his Uineyard: Yet that he may behold in us a desire, a good will, and a faithful intention, to put ourselves forth: and though sin so grievously press us down (that our weakness cannot resist him,) yet that we are armed with Faith, and entire Hope, in that sweet Sacrifice once offered up for us all, even the precious body and blood of our Lord and Saviour jesus, in his merits, to foil our enemy, comfort our feeble souls: and with a repentant heart, enter into the bosom of rest, prepared for us, since the beginning of the world. To the which that we may come, and leave this wickedness of life: Assist us most merciful Father, with thy continual grace, and arm our souls with faithful patience, so shall we triumph over our foe, and rejoice in glory world without end: which God grant us, for Christ's sake. Amen.  
FINIS.